Ottawa has no shortage of overachievers, but Ann Laubstein might be in a class of her own — literally.
At 85 years old, the Ottawa resident has just completed her fifth university degree, adding another credential to a resume that would make most graduate students blush. And if you're thinking she might be slowing down, think again: Laubstein is already planning to sign up for more courses at Carleton University.
Never the Oldest Person in the Room — Just the Most Experienced
Laubstein told the Ottawa Citizen she "didn't mind being the oldest person" in her Carleton classrooms, a distinction she's presumably held for a while now. Rather than finding it awkward, she seems to wear it as a badge of honour. Her fellow students, decades younger, have a living lesson in lifelong learning sitting right beside them.
It's the kind of story that makes you reconsider every excuse you've ever made for not finishing that night class or online certificate you signed up for in January.
Five Degrees and Counting
Details on all five degrees haven't been fully disclosed, but the fact that she's accumulated five — not one, not two — speaks to a genuine and sustained love of learning that has spanned decades. Carleton University, one of Ottawa's two major universities and home to strong programs in journalism, public affairs, and the arts, has clearly been a second home for Laubstein.
Carleton, located in the south end of Ottawa near the Rideau River, has long prided itself on accessibility and community engagement. Laubstein is living proof that the university's doors are open at every stage of life.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
Ottawa is a city of highly educated residents — it consistently ranks among Canada's most educated urban populations, thanks in large part to the federal public service, two universities, and Algonquin College. But education here is typically framed around career advancement, government credentials, or professional development.
Laubstein's story reframes the whole conversation. She isn't pursuing degrees to climb a ladder. She's pursuing them because learning itself is the point — a perspective that feels quietly radical in an era of micro-credentials and skills-based hiring.
For older Ottawans, her story is a reminder that the city's educational institutions aren't just for the young. Both Carleton and the University of Ottawa offer programs and pathways for mature and senior students, and stories like Laubstein's make the case for leaning into them.
Planning Her Next Chapter
True to form, Laubstein isn't treating degree number five as a finish line. She's already looking at what comes next — more courses, more classrooms, more learning. At an age when many people are winding down, she's drawing up a new syllabus.
It's an Ottawa story worth celebrating: a woman who has turned curiosity into a lifestyle, and who shows up to class — probably in the front row — ready to learn something new.
If you're an Ottawan who's been putting off going back to school, consider this your sign.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
